Heritage Audio LANG P.Lane Type 436 Tube Compressor - Iconic British Invasion Sound
The Heritage Audio LANG P.Lane Type 436 Tube Compressor is a faithful recreation of the modified Altec 436C vari-mu compressor that defined the vibrant sound of the 1960s British Invasion. Crafted by Heritage Audio and LANG Electronics Inc., this 2U rack unit delivers velvety, musical compression with a modern twist, including a SuperFast recovery setting. Featuring premium tubes and custom transformers, the P.Lane is a versatile tool for tracking and mixing across genres like pop, rock, hip-hop, and electronic music, offered at an accessible price.
Recreating a Legendary Compressor
The P.Lane Type 436 emulates the Altec 436C, as modified for legendary London studios, known for its use on bass, guitars, pianos, and more. Its vari-mu design provides smooth dynamic control that tames transients while preserving high-end clarity, ideal for instruments and mix buses. The P.Lane covers the original 436C’s simplicity and the evolved “London Mod” with six recovery settings and a Hold function to lock compression to peak levels.
Enhanced for Modern Studios
A SuperFast recovery setting, not found in vintage units, enables aggressive compression for contemporary sources like drums. The P.Lane employs three tubes (NOS 6H5P, JJ E88CC, NOS 6AL5) and custom LANG Electronics transformers for rich harmonic character. With six stepped attack and recovery settings, plus a Hold mode, it offers precise dynamics control, making it a workhorse for both subtle and bold processing.
Versatile and Affordable
Housed in a robust 2U steel chassis, the P.Lane features transformer-balanced XLR and TRS I/O for seamless studio integration. Its worldwide internal power supply ensures global compatibility, and the affordable price aligns with Heritage Audio’s “Sound That Defined an Era” mission to revive iconic gear. The P.Lane is a perfect fit for studios seeking vintage-inspired compression with modern reliability.
Key Features of the Heritage Audio LANG P.Lane Type 436
- Recreation of the modified Altec 436C vari-mu compressor
- Vari-mu tube design for smooth, transparent dynamic control
- 3 tubes: NOS 6H5P, JJ E88CC, NOS 6AL5 for authentic tone
- Custom LANG Electronics input/output transformers
- 6 stepped attack settings and 6 recovery settings with Hold mode
- SuperFast recovery setting for modern compression tasks
- Transformer-balanced XLR and TRS inputs/outputs
- 2U steel rackmount chassis with worldwide internal power supply
- Ideal for tracking guitars, bass, vocals, and mix-bus processing
- Part of the “Sound That Defined an Era” line
Technical Specifications
- Type: Vari-mu tube compressor
- Tubes: 1 x NOS 6H5P, 1 x JJ E88CC, 1 x NOS 6AL5
- Transformers: Custom LANG Electronics input and output
- Attack: 6 stepped settings
- Recovery: 6 stepped settings plus Hold, including SuperFast mode
- Inputs/Outputs: XLR and 6.35 mm TRS, transformer-balanced
- Power Supply: Internal, worldwide compatible
- Form Factor: 2U rackmount, steel chassis
